The Left's Assassination Culture
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The Dan O'Donnell Show delivers a fiery, unrelenting critique of what host Dan O'Donnell calls the 'left's assassination culture,' centering on the recent attempted assassination of President Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. O'Donnell details the arrest of Cole Thomas Allen, a California man who traveled cross-country with firearms and a manifesto explicitly calling Trump a 'pedophile, rapist, and traitor'—language O'Donnell argues is indistinguishable from mainstream Democratic rhetoric. He traces a pattern of escalating political violence, citing three attempted assassinations of Trump in two years, and links this to a decade of dehumanizing language from Democratic leaders, media figures, and activists who routinely label Trump a fascist, Nazi, or authoritarian. O'Donnell condemns the hypocrisy of Democrats who decry violence while normalizing violent rhetoric, using examples like Jimmy Kimmel’s 'expectant widow' joke and the celebration of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. He devotes significant time to Wisconsin Democrat Kirk Bangstad, branding him a 'vile, disgusting human being' for offering free beer upon Trump’s death and for allegedly funneling donor money into his own pockets. The episode concludes with data showing a stark partisan divide: 44% of liberals believe political violence is sometimes justified, compared to just 9% of conservatives, and 24% of very liberal Americans say it's acceptable to feel joy at a political opponent’s death.
The attempted assassination of President Trump was motivated by mainstream left-wing rhetoric that routinely labels him a pedophile, rapist, and fascist.
Dan O'Donnell argues that Democratic leaders and media figures have created a culture of dehumanization that directly enables violent extremism.
Kirk Bangstad, a Wisconsin Democrat, is portrayed as a dangerous figure for offering free beer upon Trump’s death and funneling PAC funds into his personal accounts.
A 2025 poll shows 44% of liberals believe political violence is sometimes justified—compared to just 9% of conservatives.
The episode frames political violence in America as one-sided, with all serious attempts on Trump’s life occurring in the context of left-wing radicalization.
The Attempted Assassination of President Trump
“This was not somebody who appeared to be just completely out there, horribly schizophrenic, seeing visions, thinking that President Trump was a lizard person or something like that. In fact... What he was talking about and what was motivating him to violence was well within the mainstream of left-wing political discourse in this country.”
The Manifesto and the Mainstream Rhetoric
“The answer if you're being honest with yourself is that there is no difference at all. Much of the manifesto of the would-be assassin is indistinguishable from the words that we hear daily from so many.”
The Cult of Hatred and the Weaponization of Rhetoric
“They imitate the blood and soil rhetoric of history's worst regimes. In that montage, you heard Senator John Ossoff. Yes, that was Wisconsin's own disgrace of a congressman, Mark Pocan...”
Kirk Bangstad: The Face of Wisconsin’s Radical Left
“He is offering a reward for not just the assassin but for everybody who hates Trump a reward for killing the president of the United States.”
The Case of Francesca Hong and the Democratic Party’s Complicity
O'Donnell criticizes Francesca Hong, a leading Democratic gubernatorial candidate, for her association with Bangstad and for justifying political violence by equating state actions (like ICE policies) with violence, mirroring the justification used by actual assassins like Luigi Mangione.
“44% of liberals say political violence is justified. How about feeling joy about a political opponent's death? 16% of liberals... and 24% of people who said they are very liberal said it is usually or always acceptable to feel joy about a political opponent's death.”
“The answer if you're being honest with yourself is that there is no difference at all. Much of the manifesto of the would-be assassin is indistinguishable from the words that we hear daily from so many.”
“He is offering a reward for not just the assassin but for everybody who hates Trump a reward for killing the president of the United States.”
Host
Donald Trump
person
Dan O'Donnell
person
Kirk Bangstad
person
Cole Thomas Allen
person
Francesca Hong
person
Charlie Kirk
person
Mark Pocan
person
Jimmy Kimmel
person
Minocqua Brewing Company
organization
Luigi Mangione
person
A Rare Moment of Sanity from the Wisconsin Judiciary
The Dan O'Donnell Show • 1h 58m • 3/31/2026
Judge Taylor Violated Ethics Rules She Herself Introduced as State Legislator
The Dan O'Donnell Show • 1h 57m • 4/1/2026
Jessica McBride fills in for Dan
The Dan O'Donnell Show • 1h 58m • 4/2/2026
Matt Kittle Guest Hosts on Good Friday: Discussing the Wisconsin Supreme Court Debate, Liberal Hypocrisy, and More
The Dan O'Donnell Show • 1h 57m • 4/3/2026
Spring Election Preview
The Dan O'Donnell Show • 1h 54m • 4/6/2026
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